With 2.5 million admissions to date, Coco avant Chanel (Coco Before Chanel) is this summer’s big winner, ranking as the most successful French-language film of 2009.
With 2.5 million admissions to date, Anne Fontaine’s Coco avant Chanel (Coco Before Chanel) is this summer’s big winner, ranking as the most successful French-language film of the year, ahead of Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis (Welcome to the Sticks) and Entre les Murs (The Class), each with 1.5 million admissions.
Benefiting from strong international appeal, Coco avant Chanel has already more than doubled its admissions score in the home territory, with other major territories due to release the film in the near future. In Europe, it now ranks as the most successful French-language film of 2009 in most of the territories in which it has been released. This is the case in the UK, where it has attracted 465,000 spectators since its release late July, now outshining the performance of Entre les Murs. With its international run by no means over, Coco avant Chanel has already stamped itself as the third most successful French-language film in the UK since Unifrance began monitoring film statistics.
Released mid-August in Germany, the film is the second highest performing French-language film this year, behind Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis (with 776,000 admissions in 2009), and looks set to reach 450,000 admissions by the end of its run. In Spain, it is approaching the 300,000 admissions mark, ranking as the number 2 French-language film of the year, also behind Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis (571,000 admissions). It also takes the top stop for French-language films this year in Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland. Coco avant Chanel has also hit the mark in Oceania. In Australia and New Zealand, it is the top French-language film this year, tallying 224,000 and 60,000 admissions respectively. In Asia, initial statistics also look promising. Registering 86,000 in Hong Kong, the film claims the top spot for French films this year, ahead of Taken, and stands out as the second most successful French-language film since 2000, behind La Marche de l’empereur (The March of the Penguins, aka The Emperor’s Journey), with 93,000 admissions. In South Korea, the figures stand at 200,000 admissions after ten days on the screens, while in Japan, a market with a very high commercial potential for French films, it is slated for release on September 18.
In addition to the spectacular success of Coco avant Chanel, several other French titles turned up trumps this summer:
French animated films are generally well-received in Poland, and the recent release of Arthur and the Minimoys (361,000 admissions) and Asterix and the Vikings (187,000 admissions) are no exception. La Véritable histoire du chat botté (The True Story of Puss'N Boots) confirms this interest, with the film attracting 271,000 spectators since its release late July. This is a fine achievement (almost matching its 312,000-admissions score in France), ranking the film as the 8th most successful French film in Poland since 2000. La Véritable histoire du chat botté will be released in Russia at the end of September.
Released in the USA mid-May, L'Heure d'été (Summer Hours) has finished its triumphant run on a high note. Totaling 237,000 admissions to date ($1.657 million), the film is the second most successful French-language film of the year, behind Entre les Murs. Admissions for L'Heure d'été outside France are approaching the 600,000 spectators mark (against 408,000 admissions in France).
UK audiences offered a warm welcome to Mesrine: L'instinct de mort (Mesrine: Part 1 - Death Instinct), which was released August 7. The film has registered 120,000 admissions to date, making it the third most successful French film in the UK this year, behind Coco avant Chanel and Entre les Murs.
In Germany, LOL has just broken the 100,000 admissions barrier less than three weeks after its release. This marks a new triumph for the film, which has already attracted 135,000 admissions in Belgium (number 2 French film this year) and 100,000 admissions in Spain (the fourth most successful French-language film this year).
Séraphine hit the screens in the USA early June, and has now registered 100,000 admissions, ranking the film in 5th place among French films released in North America. The film by Martin Provost also scored well in Spain, where it attracted close to 70,000 moviegoers.
Also in the USA, La Fille de Monaco (The Girl from Monaco), which was released early July, currently tallies 80,000 admissions. This film now outscores another surprise hit of the summer season, Un baiser s’il vous plaît (Shall We Kiss?), which hit the screens in March and registered 75,000 admissions.
In Spain, Le Premier Jour du reste de ta vie (The First Day of the Rest of Your Life) has also proved a hit with audiences. With 80,000 admissions since June 19, the film looks set to achieve 100,000 admissions. It has now crossed the 300,000 spectators mark abroad, partly credited to a fine performance in Germany (131,000 admissions). Le Premier Jour du reste de ta vie is also due for upcoming release in the UK.
Released in Germany mid-July, Le Code a changé (Change of Plans) will finish its run with around 80,000 admissions, making the film the fourth best-performing French-langauge film to date in 2009.
